The Defense Department inspector general's office has determined the Pentagon needs to better manage the financial and cost aspects of special transactions used to stimulate and support research or acquire prototypes. DOD issued 302 so-called "other transactions" worth about $7 billion from Oct. 1, 1989, through Oct. 16, 1998, according to a newly released IG report. The report is the first ever review of contractor costs charged to other transactions in the 10 years that DOD has had such authority,...